Elian is an indirect Quranic name for boys that means âone who climbs upwardsâ, âone who ascendsâ, figuratively meaning âhighâ, âsupremeâ, âexaltedâ, âgreatâ. Elian is an ancient Arabic name used since before Islam. It is derived from the AIN-L-A root which is also the root for the common name Ali.